c++ - How to begin writing a smart pointer? -

i've received task in university, write smart pointer. received skeleton, , need implement needed methods. if i'm right, smart pointer type of pointer counts reference numbers given object (?) and, if counter reaches zero, deletes given object.

this skeleton:

template<class t> class my_pointer { public:            my_pointer(); };  class refcounted {     /* reference counted types should have public interface defined here */ public:          int increfcnt();     int decrefcnt(); };  int main() {     my_pointer<refcounted> obj1 = new refcounted();     my_pointer<refcounted> obj2 = obj1;      return 0; } 

firstly, should line do? refcounted not child of my_pointer, how can possibly instantiate new refcounted object , reference my_pointer object (pointer?)?

my_pointer<refcounted> obj1 = new refcounted(); 

why isn't there counter in my_pointer class, , why counter in refcounted class? how should start this? i'm not in c++. in advance!

firstly, should line do?

my_pointer<refcounted> obj1 = new refcounted(); 

that line should initialize my_pointer<refcounted> smart pointer refcounted raw pointer passed it.

how can possibly instantiate new refcounted object , reference my_pointer object (pointer?)?

you can using converting constructor. my_pointer doesn't have constructor accepting t*, seems have been left define.

why isn't there counter in my_pointer class, , why counter in refcounted class?

you're apparently tasked creating intrusive pointer expects stored object reference counting.

how should start this?

i take glance @ description , interface of boost::intrusive_ptr. don't need quite complete interface assignment, though.